Automatic feed-regulator for steam-boilers and the like.



E. HANNEMANN.

AUTOMATIC FEED REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9. 1913.

1,140,742. Patented May 25, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C

EMIIJ HANNEMANN, OF HERMSDORF, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC FEED-REGULATOR FOR STEAM-BOILERS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed December 9, 1913. Serial No. 805,484.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL HANNEMANN, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Hermsdorf, near Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auto- 'matic Feed-Regulators for Steam-Boilers and the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvementsin automatic feed regulators for steam boilers and the like, and more particularly in feed regulators of that class in which the supply of the feed water to the boiler is automatically controlled by means of a fluid operated motor controlled by the level of the water within the boiler and arranged to throw the feed water supply to the boiler into or out of operation. In apparatus of this class such as are now in use the said fluid motor is driven by means of steam taken from the boiler.

One of the objects of the improvements is to provide an apparatus of this class in which a fluid of low pressure is used for driving the motor, so that on the one hand the resistance of the regulating means or valve controlling the supply of the fluid to the motor is reduced, and on the other hand a controlling member such as a float of less power may be employed. Where the said controlling member consists of afloat, the size of the float can be made comparatively small, so that it can conveniently be placed intothe boiler at anysuitable place. Furthermore by reason of the small resistance of the fluid controlling member or valve the action of thefloat is more reliable and accurate, and almost instantaneous. By reason of the low pressure of the motive fluid the fluid controlling member. can more easily be made tight.

A further object of the improvements is to provide an apparatus in whicha fluid independent of the steam boiler is used for driving the motor, so that no loss of steam is caused by the controlling member, and no pipes are necessary for withdrawing the motive fluid after acting on the fluid operated motor.

Finally an object of the improvements is to provide an apparatus in which the supply of the motive fluid to the controlling member can not freeze in cold weather.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in providing an apparatus in which the motive fluid for operating the motor is supplied independently of thesteam boiler, and which for this reason may have any suitable character and any desired low pressure. In putting my invention into effeet I use in some cases air or another elastic fluid under pressure or under a vacuum. In other cases I prefer to use a non-elastic fluid, such as water or glycerin, or the like.

In order that my invention be more clearly understood several examples embodying the same have been shown in the accompanying drawings in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawingsFigure 1, is a diagrammatical view partly in section showing my improved regulator in which air under a vacuum is used for driving the motor provided for operating the feed water supply, Fig. 2, is a similar view showing my improved apparatus in the form suitable for operation by air or another elastic fluid, and Fig. 3, is a similar view showing my improved apparatus in a form which is suitable for the use of a non-elastic fluid as a driving medium for the. motor controlling the feed water supply.

Referring to the example illustrated in Fig. 1, a steam boiler is is provided with a feed water supply Z adapted to be closed or opened by means of a valve a of any known or preferred construction. Ihe stem m of the said valve is connected with a lever 71. having a rocking support on a bracket or arm 0. To the said lever a weight or spring 6 is connected which normally tends to force the valve on its seat. At its free end the lever 11. is connected by a link 39 with a suitable fluid operated motor which as shown consists of a piston 9. located within a cylinder (2. Below the piston the cylinder communicates through a pipe 9 with a pipe f comprising a valve box d. Within the said valve box there is a double acting valve T which is adapted to close or partly close either the pipe f or a tubular stud or opening 6 through which the valve casing communicates with the atmosphere. The valve 1' is connected by. a stem 8 with an arm 15 secured to a rock shaft 12 extending into a tubular casing to connected with the steam 'boil'er.. Internally of the said casing an arm w is keyed to the rock shaft '12 which is connected by a link at with a float 0. The pipe f is connected with an apparatus for producing air or another elastic fluid under a vacuum, such for example as the chimney of the fire place of the steam boiler.

In the operation of the apparatus a vacu um is constantly maintained withinthe pipe f. While the water level within the steam boiler is at its maximum, the float 0 permits the valve 7" to place itself on its lower seat so as to close the suction pipe f and to con ne'ct the pipe 9 and the cylinder b with the the piston g, so'th'at the rocking lever n,

rocked downward at a certain angle, until the suction" within" the cylinder 5 and the tension of-the spring-Va are at an equilibrium; Therefore the feed-water supply valve a. is unseated and a certain amount of feed water is supplied through: the pipe Z and into the boiler. I the level of the water within the boiler falls'further; the valve r will gradually close the tubular studi h so thatthe' valve a is further" opened by the increased" suction within the cylinder 6. When the stud h is entirely closed, the valve a is'perfectly open, so that a large supply of feed water takes P c a The modification shownin- Fig. 2" is. designed for operation by means of air or anotherel'alstic fluid under pressure-. The arrangement of the feed water valve a, the

fluid"op'erated' motor I)", and the float' c' is substantially the same as has been described with referencetoFrg'. 1, and the same-letters of referencehavebeen'used for ind-icat-ingthei said parts, so that a detailed description is notfnece ssary, The spring .e isfc'onneotedtothe rockinglever' n at the opposite side of the fulcrum, and the piston g is normallylocated on the bottom of the" cylinder b. The pipe/' is connected toa: supply of air or' another elastic fluid under pressure:

In" the operation of the apparatus the valve 1' is normally locatedon its lowerseat so as to clbs'ethe pressurepipe f. If the level within the boiler is" falls, the valve r is unseated', so that airunder' pressure is admitted' to the'motor bso as to force the-piston upward against the action of the spring a. Thereb y'the valve a is raised from its seat and feed water'is supplied to the boiler.

I When the level of the water within the boiler falls further, the valve '1' closes the stud. it, so that the full pressure of the air is transmitted to the cylinder 6 and the valve a is opened to its full extent.

Inthe example shown in Fig. 3 a nonelastic fluid is used for operating the motor 6. Theconstruction of the apparatus isnot materially changed, except that the tubular stud it is provided with a waste pipe y for withdrawing the motive liquid from the cylinder 6. I Otherwise the operation of the apparatus is not changed and it will readily beunderstood without further description.

Itwill readily be understood, that in some cases a non-elastic motive fluid for operat ing the cylinder 1) will be preferable, because the action of an elastic fluid is not instantaneous by reason of the elasticity. On the other hand an elastic fluid such asair is preferable, because no' waste conduit for with drawing the fluid is necessary.

I claim herein as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, of a liquid supply to saidreceptacle, 9; fluid op erated' motor for throwing said supply into or out" of operative position, means counteracting said' motor and tending to throw said liquid supply out of operation, means independent of the receptacle to provide a supply of a motive fluid; and means controlled by the levelof the liquid within the receptacle to'prov-ide an initially slow and subsequently accelerated degree of communication between said motive fluid supply and" motor as the liquid level falls below determined positi'o'ni 2': In an apparatus of the class described, the combinationwith a receptacle, of a liquid supply tosaid receptacle, a= fliiid opa preerated motor for throwing said'supply into or out of operative position, elastic means counteracting said motor and tending to throw said liquid supply out of operation,- means independent'of the receptacle toprovide a supply of a motive fluid, and means controlled by the level of the liquid within the receptacle to provide an initially slow and subsequently accelerated degree of communication between said motive fluid supply andmotor as the liquid level falls below a predetermined position.

3; In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a receptacle, of asource of liquid supply for said receptacle, a valve for controlling the communication of said source with the receptacle, elastic means tending normally to maintain the said valve in closed position, a fluid operated motor including acylinder and a piston movably. mounted within the cylinder, and conn'ectedoperatively with the said valve, a source of supply of motive fluid, and means controlled by the level of the-liquid within the receptacle for establishing communication between one end of motor cylinder and the source of supply of motive fluid and the atmosphere simultaneously at first and then between the said end of the cylinder and the source of supply of motive fluid alone as the liquid level falls below a predetermined position.

4:. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, of a source of liquid supply for said receptacle, a valve for controllingthe communication of said source with the receptacle, elastic means tending normally to maintain the said Valve in closed position, a fluid operated motor including a cylinder and a piston movably mounted within the cylinder, and connected operatively with the said valve, a source of supply of motive fluid, a valve chamber having three ports communicating with one end of the motor cylinder, with the source of supply of motive fluid, and with the atmosphere, respectively, a double acting valve member movably mounted within the said chamber and being adapted normally to seat at the second named port to close the same, and means controlled by the level of the liquid within the receptacle for operating the last named valve member to withdraw the same from the second named port and to move the same into a position wherein it will seat at the third port to close the same as the liquid level falls below a predetermined position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EMIL HANNEMANN. Witnesses: 5

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

.. Washington, I). G. 

